Manually propelled carriage



Aug. 7, 1951 J, GREIG 2,563,033

MANUALLY PROPELLED CARRIAGE Filed Feb. 13, 1948 Patented Aug. 7, 1951 MANUALLY PROPELLED CARRIAGE Edgar J. Greig, Kew, Victoria, Australia Application February 13, 1948, Serial No. 8,159

In Australia February 14, 1947 19 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved carriage which has been primarily devised for use in carrying a bag of golf clubs around a golf course, but which is also capable of other useful applications, such as for use as a childs push cart or pusher."

The object of the invention is to provide a collapsible carriage which is light in weight, and which when not in use may be folded to occupy a comparatively small space.

Other objects as well as the nature, characteristic features and scope of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims.

For a particular description of the invention reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which: 7

Figure l is a view in perspective showing in its extended condition a carriage incorporating the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation and partly in section of the carriage,

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the carriage in a partly folded condition.

Figure 4 is a view in front elevation of the car- I'iage in the folded condition, and

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation of the folded carriage. v

The carriage shown in the drawings comprises a substantially vertical post comprising a lower tube ID, the upper portion of which is slidably received in a tube ll of somewhat larger diameter, the lower tube being provided at a suitable intermediate" position with a collar I2 which constitutes a stop to limit the relative downward movement of the upper tube. Relative sliding movements of the tubes [0 and II are normally prevented by means of a pinch screw 40.

The inner end portion of a straight tubular handle I3 is pivotally connected by a transverse pivot pin [4 to a headpiece l l' on the upper tube ll of the telescopic post whereby, as hereinafter explained, the handle may be folded downwardly into substantial contact with said post. i

The headpiece II is so constructed as to limit the maximum opening movement of the handle so that the latter inclines upwardly and forwardly at a comparatively small angle (e. g. about 30) the inner ends of a plurality of links which collectively form an opposed pair of composite sup: porting arms for a spaced pair of transport wheels I5. Each composite arm comprises a lat-. erally spaced pair of links l6 and IT arranged in the same plane and a further link l8 arranged below the links [6 and I1.

The outer end of each of the links I6, I! and 18 forming each composite arm is pivotally connected to a bracket l9 carrying a stub axle .for the corresponding transport wheel I5.

The lower link I8 is equal in length and is disposed parallel to the coacting upper links l6 and I! so that the planes of the wheels remain par-v allel to each other at all times.

An intermediate portion of the upper link ii of each group thereof is pivotally connected to the lower end of a corresponding link 20 having its upper end pivoted to a laterally projecting lug on the upper tube l l of the telescopic post, while the handlel3 ispi-votally connected at a position some little distance from the axis thereof to the upper end of a link 2| which has its lower end portion pivoted to lugson the upper portionof the lower tube In of said post. r 1;

Accordingly when the handle I3 is being folded downwardly to lie against the telescopic post as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 the link 2! causes the upper tube II of said post to be moved upwards relatively to the lower tube l0 thereof-that. is to say the post is extended during this operation.

Also, as the tube ll moves upwardly on. the lower tube In the links 20 cause the opposed lateral arms formed by the respective groups of arms l6, l1 and I8 to swing upwards into close proximity to the opposite sides of said telescopic post, the wheels 15 being finally disposed comparatively close together, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Conversely, when the handle is raised to its operative position, the upper tube I l is moved downwards until its lower end engages thecol1ar.|,2; on the lower tube l0 and the lateral arms together; with the wheels on the free ends thereof. are moveddownwardly to their fully extended, positions, as shown in Figure 1. I A tubular bag-supporting bar 22 is arranged behind the telescopic post and the upper end portion of this bar 22 is connected to the head II of the upper tube of said post by an opposed pair of short pivoted links 23, while an intermediate that when the carriage is at rest in the extended condition, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the supporting bar 22 inclines downwardly and rearwardly at an acute angle to the telescopic post. The bar 22 is of sufficient length to form a supporting prop for the carriage when the latter is in the said resting position.

Angular movements of the short links 23 on the head of the telescopic post are limited in the upward direction by lugs 25 and in the downward direction by protuberances 26 on the sides of the tube l I of the post.

As the handle [3 is being moved downwards to collapse the carriage, the links '24 connected to the lower tube of the post cause the latter to swing inwardly towards bar 22, the device being supported at this time on a footplate 21 on the lower end of said bar. When the lower end of the tube [0 engages or closely approaches the lower end of the bar 22, further, relative downward movement of saidtube In is prevented so that during the final closing movement of the handle 13 the upper tube ll of the post moves upwardly relatively to the bar 22 whereby the short links 23 are displaced to cause the upper end of the post to move close to the said bar 22. This angular movement of the links 23 is, however, frictionally resisted by the coacting protuberances .26 on the head of the tube ll of the telescopic post so that the downward movement of the handle [3 is resiliently resisted by the link 2| as the upper end of the latter approaches its dead center position. Accordingly, when said link passes the dead center position, which it does in the final closing movement of the handle, it resiliently retains the carriage in the collapsed condition.

Y. A supporting plate 28 is hingedly connected to the footplate 21 on the lower end of the supporting bar 22 and when the carriage is in use is turned outwards to support a bag 29 of golf clubs, the lower end of said bag being preferably located and retained in position by means ofleatherstraps 30. V v

The bag is further supported by a spaced pair of rods 3| arranged one oneach side of and par-- allel to the supporting :bar 22'; the upper and lower ends of said rods being connected to the said bar by pairs of pivoted arms 32 and 33 respectively. "The upper arms 32 are connected by pivoted links 34 to the links 24 whereby as the latter swing downwardly (relatively to the supporting bar 22) during the above described folding oper: ation, the said arms 32 are moved'downwards in unison therewith thereby causing the supporting rods 3| to move inwardly into close proximity tothe supporting bar 22.

plane, the lower end of said supporting bar being then raised clear of the ground. It is to'be noted also that this forward angular movement of the carriage about the-common axis of the wheels moves the center of gravity forwards until it is disposed approximatelyabove saidaxis' thereby reducing the strain on'the user. -When, however,

the handle is raised to the rest position, the centerof gravity is behind the wheel axis and the carriage is-stab'ly supported" with "the bag-disposed- Preferably the upper end of the golf bag is re-' 4 at a convenient angle for the selection and removal of clubs.

In order to collapse the carriage it is necessary merely to remove the bag 29 release the pinch screw 49 or other equivalent locking device and then to turn the handle 13 downwards as already described, while, as previously stated the overcentered link 2i resiliently retains the whole device in the collapsed condition without the use of 'extraneous'f'astening means.

The carriage when collapsed is sufficiently small and compact to enable same to be conveniently carried in a motor car and is sufiiciently light in weight to be easily carried in the hand.

Finally the collapsible construction of the carriage permits of the wheels being spaced widely apart when; the device is in use so as to provide adequate stability whereas with noncollapsible carriages'at present in use for the same purpose it is usually necessary ifor the wheels to be arranged comparatively close to ether in order that the carriage will be of manageable size for transport. 1

Although the invention hasbeen particularly described herein as applied to a carriage for use in carrying a golf bag, it will be evident that same is equally applicable to the construction of carriages for other purposes, such as for the transport ofparcels by shoppers and others, in which case a suitable receptacle, which may be of collapsible construction is suitably supported on the bar 22. I 1

Iclaim:

1. A carriage for purposes of the kind described comprising a telescopic post, a handle pivoted to the upper portion of said post, a pair of arms pivoted to the lower portion of said post and normally projecting laterally from opposite sides thereof, a transport wheelon-each of said arms, a link connection between said pivoted handle and the lower portion of said post and link connections between the upper portion-of said post and said pivoted arms and constructed and arranged whereby said handle may be moved downwardly to lie close to said post at the same time extending the latter and causing said pivoted arms and wheels thereon'to swing "upwardly and inwardly towards said post.

2. A carriage for purposes of the kind described, comprising a telescopic post, a handle pivotally connected to the upper portion of the post and normally extending forwardly therefrom whereby it may be turned downwards to lie substantially parallel thereto, a link connection between said handle" and the lower member of the post, an opposed pair ofarms projecting laterally from the lower'm-ember of the post, transport wheels onsaid arms, a-link connection between each arm-and the upper member of the post whercby'when the-handle is turned downwards as aforesaid the post "is extended and said arms are turned upwards to lie close to said post-and means arranged behind and carried by the post and adaptedto support a'golf bag or other load.

portion thereof 'for pivotal-movements about anaxis disposed substantially transverse to the axis of the post, means interconnecting said handle meansand the lower portion of said post whereby relative sliding movements are imparted to said portions of the latter when the handle is moved angularly about said transverse axis and members interconnecting the upper portion of the post with the hingedly connected transport means whereby the various members and means are moved from an operative to an inoperative position in unison with said handle means.

4. A collapsible carriage comprising a telescopic post normally disposed in a substantially upright position and comprising relatively slidable upper and lower portions, a handle normally projecting outwardly from the upper portion of the post and pivoted thereto about a substantially transverse axis whereby saidhandle may be turnecldownwardly to lie substantially parallel to the post, an opposed pair of arms normally projecting laterally from the lower portion of said post and pivotally connected thereto about substantially transverse axes, coaxial transport wheels rotativelymounted on the free ends of the arms, link means connecting said handle to the lower portion of the telescopic post whereby said post is extended when the handle is moved to said substantially parallel ;position, further link means connecting the upper portion of said, post tosaid pivoted arms whereby the latter are swung upwardly when the post is extended and prop means connected 7 to said post and arranged when the carriage is stationary to engage the supporting surface at one side of the common axis of the transport wheels.

5. A carriage accordin to claim 2, including prop means connected to' saidipo'st and projecting therefromat one side of the common axis of the supporting wheels so asto engage the supporting surface when the carriage is in the resting position, the center of gravity of the carriage being so located that said carriage is stable in such resting position.

6. A carriage according to claim 4 wherein said prop means comprises a supporting bar arranged at the opposite side of said post tosaid handle and normally inclining downwardly and outwardly from said post and link means connecting said supporting bar tosaid post in such manner that as the handle is moved to its inoperative position said supporting bar is moved towards said post.

'7. A carriage according to claim 4, wherein means for supporting a load is attached to said prop means.

8. A carriage according to claim 4, including collapsible load-supporting means mounted on said prop means and wherein said load supporting means is coupled to said relatively slidable portions of the post whereby same is moved to the collapsed condition when said handle is moved to its inoperative position.

9. A carriage according to claim 1 wherein each of said lateral arms comprises a plurality of substantially parallel pivoted links whereby the said transport wheels are maintained substantially parallel at all times.

10. A collapsible carriage comprising a telescopic post normally disposed in a substantially upright position and comprising relatively slidable upper and lower portions, a handle pivotally connected at its inner end about a substantially transverse axis to and normally projecting forwardly from the upper portion of the tele- Iscopic' post, a pivoted link connecting said handle to the lower portion of the post whereby the latteris extended as said handle is moved to'its inoperative position, in which it is disposed substantially parallel to said post, an opposed pair of arms normally projecting laterally from the lower portion of said post-a transport wheel rotatively mounted onthe outer end of each arm,

.each of said arms comprising a plurality ofsubstantially parallel pivoted links whereby said Wheels remain substantially parallel at all times,

apivoted link connecting each pivoted arm to the upper portion of the telescopic post whereby said arms are swung upwardly when said post is extended, a supporting bar arranged behind :and normally extending downwards and out- .wards from said telescopic post, means pivotally connecting. the upper end portion of said supporting bar to the upper portion of said post, link means connecting an intermediate portion of said supporting bar to the lower portion of said telescopic post whereby the lower portion of said supporting bar is caused to swing inwardly towards the post when the latter isextended and load carrying means on said supporting bar, said supporting bar being arranged to serve as a prop when the carriage is in the resting position.

p 11. A collapsible carriage according to claim 10 wherein the upper end portion of said supporting bar is connected to the upper portion of said telescopic post by pivoted link means and including means limiting angular movements of said lastmentioned link means.

12. A collapsible carriage according to claim 10 and constructed and arranged whereby said link which connects the handle to the lower portion of the telescopic post passes its dead center portion as the handle undergoes the final stage of its movement towards its inoperative position whereby the apparatus is retained in the collapsed condition.

13. A collapsible carriage according to claim 10, and wherein said handle inclines upwardly and forwardly from said post when the carriage is disposed in its said restingposition.

14. A collapsible carriage according to claim 10 including means operable to lock together said relatively slidable portions of said post.

15. A collapsible carriage according to claim 10, wherein said load carrying means includes a supporting member hingedly connected to the lower end portion of the supporting member and normally projecting rearwardly therefrom.

16. A collapsible carriage according to claim 10, including a pair of supporting members arranged one at each side of and substantially parallel to said supporting bar, spaced substantially parallel pivoted links connecting each said supporting member to said supporting bar and means interconnecting said supporting members and the lower portion of the telescopic post whereby said supporting members are moved inwardly towards said supporting bar when the telescopic post is extended.

17. A collapsible carriage comprising a telescopic post normally disposed in a substantially upright position and comprising relatively slidable upper and lower portions, a handle normally projecting outwardly from the upper portion of the post and pivoted thereto about a substantially transverse axis whereby said handle may be turned downwardly to lie substantially parallel to the post, an opposed pair of arms normally projecting laterally from the lower portion. of saidpost and pivotally connected thereto, about --substantially. transverse axes, coaxial transport wheelsn-rotatively mounted on the free ends of the arms, resilient link means connecting said ,7 :-handle to the lower ,portion of the telescopic post whereby said post is extended when the handle is moved .tosaid substantially parallel position, said resilient link means being arranged to pass a, dead center, position as said nan-- dle closely approaches its last mentioned position, further link means connecting the upper portion or said post to said pivoted arms whereby the latter are swung upwardly when the post is extended, and prop means connected to said post and arranged when the carriage is stationary to engage the supporting surface at one side of the common axis of the transport wheels.

,18. A collapsible carriage comprising a tele- Escopic post normally disposed in a substantially upright, position and comprising relatively slidablelupper and lowerportions, a handle pivotally connected at its inner end about a substantially transverse axis to and normally projecting for- .wardly from the upper portion of the telescopic .post, a pivoted linl: connecting said handle to the lower portion of the post whereby the latter is extended as said handle is moved to its inoperative position in whichitis disposed substantially parallel to said post, an opposed pair of arms normally projecting laterally from the lower portion of said. post, a transport wheel rotatively ,mounted on the outer end of each arm, each of said arms comprising a plurality of substantially parallel pivoted links whereby said wheels remain Y substantially. parallel atall times, a pivoted link .wconnectingeach pivoted arm to the upper por- -tion of the telescopic post whereby said arms are swung upwardly when said post is extended, a

supporting bar arranged behind and normally extending downwards and outwards from said telescopic post, means pivotally connecting the upper end portion of said supporting bar to the upper portion of said post, link means connecting an intermediate. portion of said supporting bar to the lower portion of said telescopic post whereby the lower portion of said supporting bar is caused itov swing inwardly towards the post when the latter is extended, a pair of auxiliar supporting members arranged one at each side of and, substantially parallel to said supporting bar, spaced upper and lower pairs of substantially parallel link-s;connecting each auxiliary supporting member to said supporting bar, further link means pivotally connecting said first mentioned link means to one at least of said pair of upper parallel links for said auxiliary sup-porting members,

and load carrying means on said supporting bar, said supporting bar being arranged to serve as a prop when the carriage is in the resting position.

19. A collapsible carriage comprising a single post normally disposed in a substantially upright position and comprising upper and lower telescopic and relatively slidable portions, .spaced transport means normally supporting said post and hingedly connected to the lower portion of the post and swineable about axes substantially transverse to the axis of the post, a single handle member normally projecting outwardly from said postiand connected to the upper portion thereof for pivotal movements about an axis disposed REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 332,757 Seel Dec. 22, 1885 1,199,064 Foyer Sept. 26, 1916 1,526,004 Mead Feb. 10, 1925 2,414,017 Carr et al Jan. 7, 1947 

